Like, seriously.

Silver should be "Sonic After Not Surviving". A version of Sonic whose been defeated, decimated, absolutely destroyed. Over and over and over. Sonic, from the Bad Future. A "Sonic" whose long since given up...

...Until you realize, that he hasn't actually stopped running. A light is still shining within, even if he doesn't realize it himself. But it's only in facing the REAL Sonic that this would actually be realized, and we see just how optimistic and full of hope he is, and how much he absolutely HATES evil and injustice.

But hey, that's just what I'd do. I just think this would be interesting.